James Moore came to Ohio with his parents and 12 brothers and sisters.  They migrated to Chillicothe from Virginia in 1801 traveling overland to Pittsburgh then down the Ohio River by flatboat to Alexandria near present day Portsmouth.
     Using their horses and wagon, they cut their way to Chillicothe.  James was only 8 years old at this time.  A few years later he joined a flatboat expedition down the Scioto River and then up the Ohio to Kanawha River in Virginia (now West Virginia) and the salt works.  On the way back, he was forced to come overland from Alexandria because of low water.
    In his teens, he began an apprenticeship to George Haynes, a Chillicothe blacksmith.  He learned well but before he could strike out on his own, the War of 1812 began.  He volunteered as a private in Captain Sam Joes' volunteer company, serving until August 13, 1813 in Ohio.
    James moved to Piketon October 13, 1813, entering a partnership in the blacksmith shop of William Woods.  He kept the business, which was good because of the well traveled Chillicothe-Portsmouth transport business.
     By 1817, James had enough funds to Mary Ann Chenoweth, daughter of one of the first settlers of Pike County.  When she died, in 1853, he married Anna Bateman.  Neither marriage produced any children.
    He continued to "smithy" until 1829 when he was elected Sheriff and re-elected for three successive terms.  In 1839 he was appointed Ohio Deputy Marshall.
    In his military life, he remained active in the Ohio Militia, being commissioned a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1823 and a full Colonel in 1831.  Then he elevated to the rank of Brigadier General. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Ohio Militia.

    Jail cells that are still in the building and was used by the Piketon Police when the building was used as the police station.